Suspended sentence

A 33 year old Banbridge man caught with a small amount of cannabis in his shed loft has been sentenced to three months in prison, suspended for two years.

Brian Patrick McCartan from Oakgrove, was also fined £300 and warned if he didn’t pay this within ten weeks he could spend 14 days in jail.

The court heard how officers searched his property under warrant on 19 June and made the discovery. He made a full admission.

Solicitor Michael Gillen said his unemployed client who receives benefits, has not been smoking cannabis for two years, and this was a “miniscule” amount left over from when he previously smoked it.

District Judge Mr Paul Copeland reminded McCartan this was his fifth time before the court for drugs offences. “More concernedly you have a conviction as a drug dealer too and that’s why the police went to your home I suspect. Here you are again. The amount is not a significant factor, it is the point that you continue to immerse yourself in this . This is your final warning, if this continues you will go to jail.”